Softball area Super Ten, and standings

Area softball Super Ten, through games played Tuesday, June 23:

1. BENTON COMMUNITY (30-1) - Bobcats have a tricky stretch to navigate: Wamac West lead on the line Thursday at home vs. CPU, then Jefferson and Davenport West at Jefferson on Friday. Alyssa Wiebel is among the state leaders in homers (10) and RBIs (47), and owns an 8-0 pitching mark.

2. IOWA CITY WEST (21-1) - Women of Troy have scored in double figures in each of their last eight games. Six players are hitting .400 or better, led by speedy Taleah Smith at .514. With a three-game lead in the MVC Valley Division, West has some room for error as Jefferson twinbill approaches next Tuesday.

3. SOLON (24-2) - The return of Ali Herdliska further fortifies an already-stacked lineup. Emily Ira has 34 RBIs and a 15-1 pitching record. Spartans' top remaining regular-season test is Saturday at the Solon Classic, against Iowa City West.

4. CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON (18-5) - Jefferson has outscored the last five opponents by a margin of 53-1. Hannah Towns has lifted her average above .500. Interesting tidbit: Kaylee Donner, an eighth-grader who courtesy runs for Maddie Hansen, leads the team with 26 runs.

5. CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE (18-8) - Tuesday's split with Waterloo West preserved the Hawks' two-game cushion in the MVC Mississippi Division, and the majority of the tough challenges are in the rear-view mirror. Top four hitters include two freshmen (Anne Cervany and Shelby Frederick).

6. CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (15-5) - Where do the Cougars stack up in the Metro? We're about to find out. Kennedy still faces Jefferson, Linn-Mar, Xavier and Prairie. Tianna Drahn is hitting .470 and ranks second in Class 5A with 31 steals.

7. CENTER POINT-URBANA (17-8) - Rough midseason schedule hit CPU with five losses in six games, and now the Stormin' Pointers travel to 3A No. 1 Benton Community on Thursday. Maddie Karr remains atop the state home run chart, with 12 long balls.

8. CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (11-9) - Saints had been treading water at the .500 mark, but picked up a crucial sweep of Linn-Mar on Tuesday. Morgan Breitbach led the way with a grand slam.

9. MID-PRAIRIE (17-7) - Golden Hawks' schedule has softened somewhat, and they have taken advantage with seven straight wins. Mid-Prairie has a one-game lead in the RVC South and the division will likely be decided Monday at second-place Durant. Alex Rath is hitting .606 with 38 runs.

10. LINN-MAR (13-10) - Lions have suffered through a tough week with six losses in their last seven games. They'll co-host a 16-team weekend tournament with Alburnett.

Area rankings, by class:

Class 5A - 1. Iowa City West (21-1), 2. C.R. Jefferson (18-5), 3. C.R. Prairie (18-8), 4. C.R. Kennedy (15-5), 5. Linn-Mar (13-10).

Class 4A - 1. C.R. Xavier (11-9), 2. Maquoketa (13-9), 3. Clear Creek Amana (12-11), 4. West Delaware (14-9), 5. Marion (12-9).

Class 3A - 1. Benton Community (30-1), 2. Solon (24-2), 3. Center Point-Urbana (17-8), 4. Mid-Prairie (17-7), 5. Mount Vernon (16-8).

Class 2A - 1. Highland (12-2), 2. Iowa City Regina (11-10), 3. Alburnett (13-10), 4. Cascade (15-7), 5. Jesup (10-6).

Class 1A - 1. Central City (20-5), 2. Sigourney (20-7), 3. Lansing Kee (12-10), 4. Belle Plaine (10-7), 5. BGM (12-8).

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Area conference/divisional standings, through Tuesday:

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION Conf. All

Cedar Rapids Prairie 11-5 18-8

Waterloo West 9-7 12-9

Cedar Rapids Xavier 9-7 11-9

Dubuque Hempstead 6-10 9-11

Waterloo East 5-9 10-12

Cedar Rapids Washington 5-9 8-10

Iowa City High 2-14 2-18

MVC VALLEY DIVISION Conf. All

Iowa City West 16-0 21-1

Cedar Rapids Jefferson 13-3 18-5

Cedar Rapids Kennedy 11-3 15-5

Linn-Mar 9-5 13-10

Cedar Falls 7-11 11-14

Dubuque Senior 6-10 10-15

Dubuque Wahlert 1-17 2-24

WAMAC EAST Div. All

Solon 8-0 24-2

Mount Vernon 4-2 16-8

Western Dubuque 3-3 12-10

Anamosa 3-3 9-8

Maquoketa 4-4 13-9

West Delaware 2-4 14-9

Dyersville Beckman 1-5 6-13

DeWitt Central 1-5 6-15

WAMAC WEST Div. All

Benton Community 8-0 30-1

Center Point-Urbana 4-0 17-8

Independence 2-2 7-15

Marion 3-3 12-9

Vinton-Shellsburg 3-5 12-12

Clear Creek Amana 2-4 12-11

Williamsburg 2-4 10-12

South Tama 0-6 1-18

RIVER VALLEY NORTH Div. All

Northeast 6-0 19-2

Cascade 5-3 15-7

Camanche 2-2 7-9

Monticello 3-3 7-11

Bellevue 2-6 6-15

North Cedar 0-4 3-12

RIVER VALLEY SOUTH Div. All

Mid-Prairie 9-1 17-7

Durant 8-2 17-7

West Liberty 5-3 12-4

Iowa City Regina 5-3 11-10

Wilton 3-7 14-13

West Branch 0-6 7-9

Tipton 0-8 0-21

TRI-RIVERS Conf. All

Bellevue Marquette 12-0 18-1

Central City 11-3 20-5

Alburnett 10-4 13-10

Maquoketa Valley 7-3 11-13

Springville 6-4 10-12

Calamus-Wheatland 6-6 9-8

North-Linn 5-9 10-15

Lisbon 3-7 6-14

East Buchanan 2-6 3-8

Easton Valley 0-10 1-15

Midland 0-10 1-16

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com